Friday, 25 March 2016

ACCIDENT TIME


When you have a totally unexpected accident happening right in front of your eyes, how would you respond in Japanese? Here are some of the expressions in Japanese….

What happened? – どうしたの?  Do shita no?
You can use this for any occasion when you want to just find out what’s going on.  You often use this when you are worried about someone. But depending on how you say it, if you say it with emphasis, then you are really asking “What’s happening.”

What the heck happened? – いったい何が起こったの?(いったい なにが おこったの?) Ittai naniga okottano?
“Ittai” means “~the heck”.. This expression can be also translated as “いったいどうしたの?” (Ittai doushitano?) that would mean the same thing as above.

I can’t believe this! – 信じられない!(しんじられない。)Shinji rarenai! 
You often add a expression like, “mou (もう)”at the begging of this as you say this, such as,  もう信じられない! (mou shinji rarenai!)

Are you OK? – 大丈夫?(だいじょうぶ?) Daijo-bu?

Calm down. 落ち着いて。(おちついて)Ochitsuite

You will be OK. 大丈夫だから。(だいじょうぶだから) Daijo-bu dakara.

Don’t cry. 泣かないで。(なかないで。) Nakanaide.

Stay still. じっとして。 Jitto shite.

I understand it hurts.  痛いの分かるよ。(いたいのわかるよ。)Itaino wakaruyo.

Let’s go see a doctor. 医者に行こうね。(いしゃに いこうね。)Isha ni iko ne.
 These expressions are not just for emergencies, but you could also use any time you are caring for someone, or any appropriate situations.

PROVERBS

  1. 雨降って地固まる (Ame futte ji katamaru) -あめふって じ かたまる
  • Adversity strengthens the foundations
  • After a storm comes a calm
  • Good comes out of evil
Basically, meaning of this proverb is, after you experience something bad, there comes good things. Literal translation is  “After rain, comes fair weather.” This is one of my favorite proverbs.


  2.  花より団子(Hana yori dango) – はな より だんご
You might have heard the proverbs such as,
  • Dumplings rather than flowers
  • Pudding before praise
  • Better have meat than fine clothes
Basically, what it means is that, people are more interested in the practical over the aesthetic. This Japanese proverb is also used in an ironic way as well when we talk about people to criticize, for someone who does not understand the true meaning of something.


3. 一石二鳥 (Isseki ni cho) – いっせき にちょう
  • Kill two birds with one stone.
This is probably one of the easiest and most used proverbs in our house. I often talk to kids explaining things using this proverb.  Literal translation is exactly, “Kill two birds with one stone.”


  4. 縁の下の力持ち (En no shitano chikara mochi)-  えんの したの ちから もち
  • Person who does a thankless task
  • unsung hero
I was not able to find the exact match for this proverb in English.  Example: かれは えんの したの ちからもち だ。(Kare wa en no shita no chikara mochi da.) ===> He is a man of modest worth.


5. 郷に入っては郷に従え (Gou ni haitte wa gou ni shitagae) – ごうに はいっては ごうに したがえ
  • When in Rome, do as the Romans do.
  • You should conform to the custom of the country
This is the proverb I often tell the kids when we travel back and force between Japan and U.S. There are many cultural things they need to adjust while in Japan. If you are a traveler, you would know the true meaning of this.

There are many more useful proverbs in Japanese. Do you have anything particular that you like? If so, share with me in the comment section!

TOO CASUAL

  1. おっす (ossu) = What’s up
Originally an extremely formal word used in the military, this word is still commonly used by martial arts practitioners.
Nowadays, it’s a slangy way to say hello among young people. Friends use it to greet each other and it can have many variations.
  1. こんちゃ(koncha) = Hi
This word is a slang variation of konnichiwa and it sounds less stiff. You use it when you meet and greet friends. And this is a tad more conservative than おっす.
Note: If you’re being introduced to someone for the very first time, sorry, you’d have to stick to konnichiwa.
  1. よー (yo) = Hey
This word is the usual way of saying “hey” or “hi” as a friendly greeting to some close friends. Don’t use it with strangers as it’s a bit too much and rather impolite.
  1. お前・おまえ (omae) = You
This means the personal pronoun “you.” If you watch enough Japanese dramas or movies, you’d often hear this uttered by the male characters in the show.
This word is extremely impolite except when used by close friends. Then it becomes more of a friendly insult.
  1. 調子どう・ちょうしどう (choushi dou) = How’s it going
This question can be used at social gatherings with friends and is a safe phrase to ask people how they are doing. It can mean “how have you been,” “what’s new,” or “what’s happening.”
  1. まあまあだよ (maa maa dayo) = So-so
This word means “not too bad,” or “it’s okay.” It can be used to refer to a book you just read or even your job. The underlying message is that it’s not all that good but still tolerable.
  1. ごめんちゃい/ごめんくさい (gomenchai/gomenkusai) = Sorry
These two words are slangy forms of ごめんなさい (gomennasai) and are sort of fun and light-hearted. You can say them if what you did wasn’t that serious or if you want to sound cute.
You can also use them if you are online and chatting with people or casually apologizing to a friend, when you don’t have to be so stiff and formal.
Note: In a more serious situation, if you want to apologize properly, you should say ごめんなさい.
Hope you had fun learning these slang words! Formality is an important aspect of Japanese communication. So make sure that you pick the right context to try out these slang words!

SORRY

In your day to day conversation, I am sure there are some occasions or moments where you have to sincerely apologize to someone.  Perhaps you didn’t mean to hurt his/her feelings, but thing happened, and that you need to let him/her know how sorry you are.  Today’s post is all about apologizing in Japanese. I don’t think I have covered this topic yet in my blog. These are some useful expressions when you need to say “sorry” to someone..  I added some explanation to each of them so you know when/how to use it. Read on!

Gomen ne (ごめんね) – I am sorry. or Gomen nasai (ごめんなさい) – I am sorry.

This one is a typical expression when you just want to say, ” I am sorry.

Gomen (ごめん) –  Sorry…

Just like when you use say “sorry” in English, this is a shorter version. Depending on the way you say it, it would sound like, you might not actually mean it…(you know what I mean..)

Honto ni gomen ne (本当にごめんね。ほんとうに ごめんね。) – I am really sorry.

“Really” is “honto ni ” in Japanese. By adding this word, you sound like you mean more.


Suggoku gomen ne. (凄く、ごめんね。 すごく ごめんね。) – I am truly sorry.

This expression is rather between kids or close friends of yours.

Moushi wakenai.  (申し訳ない、もうしわけない。) – I feel terrible. 

This expression is mainly used among adults. You would say this to someone you don’t know to well, or someone who is in higher status than yourself.  This applies also to the next expression.

Moushi wake arimasen deshita. (申し訳ありませんでした。もうしわけ ありませんでした。) – I am really sorry. I feel terrible. 

This expression is used again mainly among adults. It is used also in professional environment, such as at work places.

If you know how to use the above 6 ways of saying “sorry” by differentiating based on the situation you are in, you are good to go. Most of the time, you can get away by using the first expression. Hopefully you don’t have to use these so often!

NUMBERS

0ぜろ、れいZero, rei
1いちIchi
2Ni
3さんSan
4よん、しYon, shi
5Go
6ろくRoku
7しち、ななShichi, nana
8はちHachi
9きゅう、くKyû, ku
10じゅう
11十一じゅういちJû-ichi
12十二じゅうにJû-ni
13十三じゅうさんJû-san
14十四じゅうよん、じゅうしJû-yon, jû-shi
15十五じゅうごJû-go
16十六じゅうろくJû-roku
17十七じゅうしち、じゅうななJû-shichi, jû-nana
18十八じゅうはちJû-hachi
19十九じゅうきゅうJû-kyû
20二十にじゅうNi-jû
21二十一にじゅういちNi-jû-ichi
22二十二にじゅうにNi-jû-ni
23二十三にじゅうさんNi-jû-san
24二十四にじゅうよん、にじゅうしNi-jû-yon, ni-jû-shi
25二十五にじゅうごNi-jû-go
26二十六にじゅうろくNi-jû-roku
27二十七にじゅうしち、にじゅうななNi-jû-shichi, ni-jû-nana
28二十八にじゅうはちNi-jû-hachi
29二十九にじゅうきゅうNi-jû-kyû
30三十さんじゅうSan-jû
31三十一さんじゅういちSan-jû-ichi
32三十二さんじゅうにSan-jû-ni
33三十三さんじゅうさんSan-jû-san
34三十四さんじゅうよん、さんじゅうしSan-jû-yon, san-jû-shi
35三十五さんじゅうごSan-jû-go
36三十六さんじゅうろくSan-jû-roku
37三十七さんじゅうしち、さんじゅうななSan-jû-shichi, san-jû-nana
38三十八さんじゅうはちSan-jû-hachi
39三十九さんじゅうきゅうSan-jû-kyû
40四十よんじゅうYon-jû
41四十一よんじゅういちYon-jû-ichi
42四十二よんじゅうにYon-jû-ni
43四十三よんじゅうさんYon-jû-san
44四十四よんじゅうよん、よんじゅうしYon-jû-yon, yon-jû-shi
45四十五よんじゅうごYon-jû-go
46四十六よんじゅうろくYon-jû-roku
47四十七よんじゅうしち、よんじゅうななYon-jû-shichi, yon-jû-nana
48四十八よんじゅうはちYon-jû-hachi
49四十九よんじゅうきゅうYon-jû-kyû
50五十ごじゅうGo-jû
51五十一ごじゅういちGo-jû-ichi
52五十二ごじゅうにGo-jû-ni
53五十三ごじゅうさんGo-jû-san
54五十四ごじゅうよん、ごじゅうしGo-jû-yon, go-jû-shi
55五十五ごじゅうごGo-jû-go
56五十六ごじゅうろくGo-jû-roku
57五十七ごじゅうしち、ごじゅうななGo-jû-shichi, go-jû-nana
58五十八ごじゅうはちGo-jû-hachi
59五十九ごじゅうきゅうGo-jû-kyû
60六十ろくじゅうRoku-jû
61六十一ろくじゅういちRoku-jû-ichi
62六十二ろくじゅうにRoku-jû-ni
63六十三ろくじゅうさんRoku-jû-san
64六十四ろくじゅうよん、ろくじゅうしRoku-jû-yon, roku-jû-shi
65六十五ろくじゅうごRoku-jû-go
66六十六ろくじゅうろくRoku-jû-roku
67六十七ろくじゅうしち、ろくじゅうななRoku-jû-shichi, roku-jû-nana
68六十八ろくじゅうはちRoku-jû-hachi
69六十九ろくじゅうきゅうRoku-jû-kyû
70七十ななじゅうNana-jû
71七十一ななじゅういちNana-jû-ichi
72七十二ななじゅうにNana-jû-ni
73七十三ななじゅうさんNana-jû-san
74七十四ななじゅうよん、ななじゅうしNana-jû-yon, nana-jû-shi
75七十五ななじゅうごNana-jû-go
76七十六ななじゅうろくNana-jû-roku
77七十七ななじゅうしち、ななじゅうななNana-jû-shichi, nana-jû-nana
78七十八ななじゅうはちNana-jû-hachi
79七十九ななじゅうきゅうNana-jû-kyû
80八十はちじゅうHachi-jû
81八十一はちじゅういちHachi-jû-ichi
82八十二はちじゅうにHachi-jû-ni
83八十三はちじゅうさんHachi-jû-san
84八十四はちじゅうよん、はちじゅうしHachi-jû-yon, hachi-jû-shi
85八十五はちじゅうごHachi-jû-go
86八十六はちじゅうろくHachi-jû-roku
87八十七はちじゅうしち、はちじゅうななHachi-jû-shichi, hachi-jû-nana
88八十八はちじゅうはちHachi-jû-hachi
89八十九はちじゅうきゅうHachi-jû-kyû
90九十きゅうじゅうKyû-jû
91九十一きゅうじゅういちKyû-jû-ichi
92九十二きゅうじゅうにKyû-jû-ni
93九十三きゅうじゅうさんKyû-jû-san
94九十四きゅうじゅうよん、きゅうじゅうしKyû-jû-yon, kyû-jû-shi
95九十五きゅうじゅうごKyû-jû-go
96九十六きゅうじゅうろくKyû-jû-roku
97九十七きゅうじゅうしち、きゅうじゅうななKyû-jû-shichi, kyû-jû-nana
98九十八きゅうじゅうはちKyû-jû-hachi
99九十九きゅうじゅうきゅうKyû-jû-kyû
100ひゃくHyaku